Websense predicts cyber threat trends for 2013

San Diego company sees criminals focusing more on mobile; governments getting into the game

Cyber-attackers increasingly will focus their efforts on mobile devices, as well as boost the sophistication of email spear-phishing campaigns, says a report issued this week by San Diego Internet security software firm Websense.

The white paper, which highlights cyber security trends for 2013, also predicts government-sponsored attacks will increase and popular Web-based content management software will continue to be exploited by attackers to launch malware and sidestep common Web security defenses.

“This past year illustrated how quickly the threat landscape continues to evolve,” said Charles Renert, vice president of Websense Security Labs. “It is now expanding across diverse mobile platforms, evolving content management systems and an ever-increasing population of online users.”

Websense makes Web filtering and security software for large organizations. Its research lab studies threats to pinpoint security gaps and prepare new safeguards.

A major trend in 2013, the report says, will be cyber criminals’ expanded focus on mobile.

Websense predicts that the growth rate of cyber threats will be highest on Microsoft’s Windows 8, followed by Android because of the openness of the platform.

Apple’s iOS operating systems is not as open, so it’s less vulnerable to attack. But there are a lot of iPhones out there, including many being used on the job. So Websense believes cyber criminals will try to create more targeted attacks to crack iPhone defenses in 2013 in hopes of getting sensitive corporate information.

“They want to get their hands on confidential data,” Patrik Runald, director of security research at Websense, said in a recent interview. “It’s very likely going forward that we will see these mobile devices be an entry point.”

The company also predicts that cyber criminals will get better at sneaking through the defenses at legitimate app stores. Moreover, the report predicts mobile users downloading apps from non-sanctioned websites will continue to pose a significant risk. Today, most of the malware infecting smartphones comes from third-party apps not found in Google’s Marketplace or Apple’s App Store.

The mobile industry is taking steps to fight the looming cyber threat. Verizon Wireless, for example, offers a mobile security app powered by McAfee for Android smartphones. There is no charge for Verizon contract subscribers for basic protection, said spokesman Ken Muche. Premium security costs $1.99 a month per line.